Photographer's Note

This is one of the entranceways to the Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque in the Bruneian capital Bandar Seri Begawan.

The mosque was named after Omar Ali Saifuddin III, the 28th Sultan of Brunei. The mosque is a symbol of the Islamic faith in Brunei and dominates the skyline of Bandar Seri Begawan. The building was completed in 1958 and is an impressive example of modern Islamic architecture. It is built in an artificial lagoon on the banks of the Brunei River at Kampong Ayer. It has marble minarets and golden domes with courtyards and lush gardens full of fountains. The mosque is surrounded by a plethora of trees and floral gardens which in Islam symbolize heaven. The mosque's most recognizable feature, the main dome, is covered in pure gold. The mosque stands 52 m high and can be seen from virtually anywhere in Bandar Seri Begawan. The interior of the mosque is for prayer only. It has magnificent stained glass windows, arches, semi-domes and marble columns. Nearly all the material used for the building has been imported from abroad - the marble from Italy, the granite from Shanghai, the crystal chandeliers from England and the carpets from Saudi Arabia.

Jeez you do get around don't you? And to so many exotic places. The vertical framing here is so complementary to the vertical nature of your subject and really adds a sense of depth. Excellent contrast and sharpness too. It could be my wonly eyes, but I see a slight incline in the photo, but that could also be the distortion from the lens. Anywas, it matters not. This is a great one.

TFS and I wish you a good weekend (hope you're not being flooded)
Lisa